krantz



H. -F. KRANTZ.

MOTOR STARTING SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED ran. 1B. 1916.

1 ,305,375. Patented June 3, 1919.

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H. F. KRANTZ.

MOTOR STARTING SWITCH.

APPLICATION HLEU FEB. 8. ms

Patented June 3,1919.-

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F. KRANTZ.

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Patented June 3, 1919-.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUBERT F. KRANTZ, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO KRANTZ MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, INC., 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MOTOR-STARTING SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 3, 1919.

Application filed February 18, 1916. Serial No. 79,097.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HUnnR'r F. KRANTZ, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Motor-Starting Switch, of which the following specification is a full disclosure.

This invention deals with a motor starting switch and it proposes a unique yet simple structure enabling the'first inrush of current to be taken directly from the mains independently of the motor fuses and then to draw the subsequently needed current through said fuses.

One object within the contemplation of this invention is to overcome the frequent blowing of fuses.

A furtherobject is to provide simple and efficient means whereby two switch units may be operated from a single handle in such manner that one of said switch units will serve to transmit the motor starting current and will be automatically thrown out leaving the other switch unit to transmit the running current.

Other objects will be in part obvious from the annexed drawings and in part indicated in connection therewith by'the following analysis of this invention.

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of parts, and in the unique relations of the members and in the relative proportioning and disposition thereof; all as more completely outlined herein.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to comprehend the underlying features thereof that they may embody the same by the numerous modifications in structure and relation contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred form have been annexed as apart of this disclosure, and in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which Figure l is a plan of a switchboard embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a detail showing a detent for facilitating the returning of the actuating handle in its intermediate position. Fig. 3 shows the parts in their inoperative position with the motor still. Fig. l is a side elevation partially in section, with the side plate removed, of a switch mechanism embodying this invention, the parts being shown in the usual stage of the starting of the motor. Fig. 5 shows the position the parts occupy during the normal running of the motor.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a base plate of insulating material on which are mounted one or more bus-bars 2. As several bus-bars and switches are shown which are of identical construction, it will sufiice to describe but one. Overlying these bus-bars is a rocking blade holder formed of parallel strips 3 and 4 having their ends secured at the one end to a gudgeon providing the pivot 5 which is mounted in a side plate 6 uprising from the base board 1. At the opposite end, the strips and l are secured to a part 7 providing arms 8 for actuating the same and providing also a shaft 9 which is journaled in the plate 10. A spring 11 tends constantly to urge the brush-holder, formed of the plates 3 and 4, in an anti-clock-wise direction, as shown by the drawings. Mounted on the brush-holder and insulated therefrom by means of the plates 12 are a number of brushes 13, preferably of resilient construction, as shown, although a knife-blade arrangement is equally applicable. When the brush-holder is in the osition shown by Figs. 4 and 5 with the lades contacting with the busbars, the position is normally maintained by means of a toggle formed of the links 14 and 1.5, the latter being pivoted about the fixed pivot 16 and the former being pivoted to the pin 17 mounted on the arm 8. A floating pivot 18- conmects these links and they are prevented from moving out of the dead center position shown Figs. 4 and 5 by an abutment against the pin 19.

In this embodiment, the switch just described is that ordinarily employed during the normal runnin of the motor, but in addition to that switch this invention proposes an auxiliary switch S which is used merely during the initial starting period of the motor when a great inrush of current is consumed owing to the momentary low reactance of the motor.

This auxiliary switch may be mounted and'constructed in precisely the same mannor as that previously described and therefore these details need not be further elaborated. It is to be noted that the location of the switch S with relation to the switch 13 is of no consequence providing, however, that'it derives current independently of the fuse intervening between the switch 13 and the main line.

A very important characteristic of this invention lies, furthermore, in the mechanism whereby the switch S may be used Lemorarily for starting purposes and the switch 13 for normal running purposes; the functioning being such that when the motor is to be started the switch S will be caused to establish contact with the main line either simultaneously or slightly before the switch 13 and within a few moments thereafter the switch S will be disconnected. while leaving the switch 13 in operation.

One very simple instrumentality for achieving this result is shown in the drawings and it consists of a connection between the device controlling the switch 13 and the device controlling the switch S such that the latterdevicewill be positively operated either immediately before or simultaneously with the other device so as to throw the switch S into its closed circuit position at approxi* mately the same time as the switch 13 is closed. This mechanism also embodies means effective during subsequent movement thereof to snap open switch S, and it also embodies means enabled to go into action during a still later movement of the mechanism to snap open the switch 13 to eifect the stoppage of the motor. All of this may be accomplished by a very simple arrangement which here merely assumes the form of a lost motion link together with a link actuator.

This lost motion link is indicated by L and it is rovided with a slot through which extends tie central pivot member 22 of the toggle controlling switch S, whereby this toggle may be either erected or broken by a shifting of the link L. The other end of the link L is provided with a slot 23 through which extends the central pivot member 18 of the toggle controlling switch 13. The slot 23 provides lost motion and enables two different contact surfaces to come into action at different times with relation to the pivot 18. That is to say, it provides a contact surface 24 which becomes effective on the pivot 18 at substantially the same time that the corresponding end wall of the slot 21 becomes effective on the pivot 22, when the link L is moved in the direction causing the switch blades to make contact with the bus-bars.

On the other hand, the contact surface 25 bears such a relation to its corresponding end of the slot 21 that, when the link is moved in a direction to break the toggles, said surface 25 will not become efiective against the pivot 18 until. after the end of the slot 21 has already broken the toggle of switch S by shifting the pivot 22.

At this time, that is when the link L has been moved just far enough-to break the togglc of switch S, the mechanism is in the running position, with switch 13 on and switch S off.

Upon continued movement of the link L in the same direction the surface 25 of the slot will engage the pivot 18 of the toggle controlling switch 13 and break said toggle, thereby opening the switch 13.

It will be noted that the slot 21 provides a certain amount of lost motion with respect to the pivot 22 so that when said pivot 22 has reached its final off position, the link L may still move sufficiently farther to break the toggle of the switch 13; the lost motion of the slot 23 being considerably greater than that of the slot 21 since the latterneed only be suiiicient to enable the link L to throw the pivot 18 across its dead center, whereas the lost motion in the slot 23 must be suiiicient to-accommodate the full swing of the pivot 18.

The terminal leading to the motor is indicated by 25 and is connected, independently of the fuse P, to the terminal or contact 26 with which the switch S establishes connection; whereas the terminal 25 is connected with the contact 27 of the switch 13 only through the fuse P. A convenient manner of doing this consists in providing a block M of insulating material and arranging a U-shaped strip N on one end of it and another U-shaped strip 0 on the other end of it and providing the ends of these strips or conductors with spring-clips 31 and 30 suitably formed to receive the ends of the fuse P. The opposite ends of the strips N and 0 provide the contact terminals 27 and 26 in a protected position beneath the insulating block.

F or the purpose of operating the switch blades by means of the link L, a manually or automatically actuated element may be employed. Reduced to its simplest form, this element comprises a handle lever B pivoted at 32 to the side plate 10 and having a pin 33 entering a lost motion aperture 34 in the link L. This lost motion permits the springs to effect a quick break of the switch blades without overcomin the inertia ofthe lever R. This lever pre erably embodies a detent mechanism for holding it in its .running position and to that end a small springpressed pawl 35 is adapted to enter a suitable recess 36 in the edge of the plate 10 so as to frictionally retain the lever yieldingly in place. A pressure of the hand will, however,.sufiice to cause the pawl to override this recess.

It will of course be apparent that by disposing the lower end wall of they slot 21 in such position that it will engage the pivot before the lower end wall 24 of the slot 23- engages the pivot 18 then the pivot 22 will be, moved to on position ahead of the pivot 18. This will insure an. on position naoaarzt of the switch S by the time the switch 13 is on, or it may even insure an on position of the switch S somewhat in advance of the on position of the switch 13 if dc siredi The connections between the handle and the switches. are such that movement of the handle, innparts positive operation to the switches. in both directions. When moving the switches on the lower end walls of the lost motion slots in the link L engage the toggles and positively make the toggles, while in moving the switches off the upp r end walls of the slots engage the toggles and not only break the toggles but positively insure movement of the toggles to ward their full ofl positions. The springs of the switches operate to eiiect a snap ofl' inoven'ient of the switches the moment the toggles are broken.

As many changes could be made in this construction without departing from the scope if the invention as defined in the following claims. it is intended that all mattcr contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as. illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus revealed this invention, I claim} as new. and. desire to secure the following combinations of elements, or equivalcnts thereof, 'by Letters Patent of the United States 1. A switch mechanism combinlng two shiftable switch blades; two toggles, one for holding each blade in a similar position; springs normally urging the blades into another position; and a device for breaking said toggles in succession to. render said springs serially effective.

2. Aswitch mechanism combining two independently shiftable switch blades; separate positioning devices for said blades; a link connected with one positioning device to positively move said positioning device and having a lost motion connection with the other positioning device; and means for shifting said link to first operate one positioning device and to affect the retarded operation of the other positioning device.

3. A switch mechanism combining two switch blades shiftable into on and off positions; springs independently urging said blades toward their oft positions; two toggles one for independently holding each blade in on position, a connecting member extending between said two toggles adapted to be actuated to break said toggles in succession to produce movement of the switch blades one after the other into 0115' position; and a single operatin element for operating said COIlIlGCtiHg mem er.

4. A switch mechanism combining two independently mo 'able switch blades, an actuating member, connections between the actuating member and the switch blades for moving the blades, said connections including means for positively holding the switch blades simultaneously in on position while yet allowing movement of the actuating member, and said connections also including a part operable by movement of the actuating member first to move one blade off and thereafter to move the other blade off.

5. A switch mechanism combining two in dependently movable switch blades, toggles for holding said switch blades in one position when the toggtes are made, an. actuating member for said toggles, and connections between said actuating member and said toggles to break said toggles in succession for thereby moving the switch blades successively from their respective positions.

6. A switch mechanism combining two independently movable snap switches, operat ing means to operate said switches, said operating means including an actuating element movable to positively move the switches on, and said operating means further including parts operable by movement of the actuating element to successively snap said switches off.

7. A switch mechanism combining two independently movable switch blades shift- 1 able into on and ofi positions, a toggle operable when made to hold one of said switches on, a shiftable link extending from connection with the knee of said togglc into operative connection with the second switch blade having a part to hold said second switch blade on, said link being adapted to be actuated for breaking said toggle and efi'ecting successive movement of said switch blades 0H, and means whereby to operate said link.

8. A motor starting switch comprising a base plate, an elongated contact member extending along one face of the base plate, a starting switch and a running switch spaced apart along the length of said elongated contact member, a pair of separate contacts insulated from each other and spaced away from the elongated contact one for each of said switches, each of said switches comprising a switch blade movable to open and close connection between the elongated contact, and the respective adjacent separate contact, a single operating member for said two switches, and connections between the operating member and the switch blades whereby to move the switch blades for closing starting or running circuits by selective positioning of the operating member.

9. A motor starting switch comprising a base plate, an elongated contact member extending along one face of the base plate, a starting switch and a running switch spaced apart along the length of said elongated contact member, a pair of separate contacts insulated .from each other and spaced away from the elongated contact one for each of said switches, a plate of insulating material arranged spaced from the base plate and serving to support said separate contacts at its side which faces the base plate, fuse holders at the opposite side of said plate of insulating material adapted to retain a fuse electrically connected one with each of said separate contacts, means whereby to connect an incoming conductor with said elongated contact, means whereby to connect an outgoing conductor with the separate contact associated with the starting switch, and means to operate said two switches with relation to each other.

10. A motor starting switch comprising a base plate, an elongated contact member extending along one face of the base plate, a starting switch and a running switch spaced apart along the length of said clon gated contact member, a pair of separate contacts insulated from each other and spaced away from the elongated contact one for each of said switches, a plate of insulating material arranged spaced from the base plate and serving to support said separate contacts at its side which faces the base plate, fuse holders at the opposite side of said plate of insulating material adapted to retain a fuse electrically connected one with each of said separate contacts, means whereby to connect an incoming conductor with said elongated contact, means whereby to connect an outgoing conductor with the separate contact associated with the starting switch, a single operating handle, connections between said operating handle and said two switches for operating said switches into on and 011' positions by said handle, and said connections being of a character to enable movement of the starting switch off while the running switch remains on.

11. A. switch mechanism combining two independently movable switch blades, a conductor, an actuating member for moving the switch blades, connections between the actuating member and the switch blades whereby to move the switch blades simultaneously into on position, and said connections including parts for enga ing together to thereby positively throw tie switch blades into off position one ahead of the other.

12. A switch mechanism combining two independently movable switch blades, a conductor, an actuating member for moving said switch blades into on osition, means whereby said actuating mem er is adapted to throw the switch blades into off position, and said last means including parts for engaging together to thereby [positively throw the switch blades into 0 position one ahead of the other.

13. A motor starting switch comprising a pair of toggle operated switches, connections between said switches whereby positively to close said switches at substantially the same time, and whereby positively to cause one of said switches to be moved off before the other.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name, as attested by the two subscribing witnesses.

HUBERT F. KRANTZ. Witnesses:

LEON MINTZ, B. CooKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G."

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